London Wine Fair is approaching capacity on its inaugural Host Nation initiative, which was first announced in the autumn. The initiative has been introduced to showcase a specific country or region as the centrepiece of London Wine Fair. For the first year, the focus will be on British producers, including English and Welsh wine. With the original English Wine stand sold out, this dedicated space has now doubled in size, with 50% of this already allocated; expectations are that more than 100 UK producers will sign up in time for May, exceeding the original target; an almost five-fold increase on 2025, indicating both optimism and growth within this category.
Since the acquisition of London Wine Fair by Vindustrious on 31st October, several prominent English wine producers have come on board, including: 1276 Wines; Balfour; Bolney; Chapel Down; Everflyht; Flint Vineyards; Roebuck; Sandridge Barton; and Williams Family Wine. These join other leading wine producers, including Gusbourne – coming to the fair for the first time – and Simpsons, along with 30 producers from Defined Wines, which will host a Pop-Up Tasting on the middle day.
Jordan Painter, Sales Director, Balfour Winery, comments: “Balfour Winery, one of the UK’s leading wineries, is delighted to be making a return to the London Wine Fair this year as part of the fair’s spotlight on home nation producers. We are looking forward to exhibiting our broad range of premium still and sparkling wines alongside other prominent English wineries. Our participation also gives us a platform to amplify and celebrate our wine tourism offering – part and parcel of our overall brand DNA, and an added value proposition for both domestic and overseas visitors.”
Samantha Cross, Marketing Controller, Bolney Wine Estate comments: “We’re thrilled to be part of this year’s London Wine Fair, especially as a contributor to the Host Nation campaign showcasing the best of English winemaking. At Bolney, we’re proud of the craftsmanship and character behind our wines, and London Wine Fair provides the perfect platform to present them alongside other outstanding producers. We look forward to celebrating the innovation, quality and passion that is driving the momentum of English wine today.”
Michael Kennedy, CEO at Roebuck Estates, comments: “We are thrilled to be exhibiting at the 2026 London Wine Fair for the first time ever. Building on our success in both domestic and export markets, we are very much looking forward to showing our individual Roebuck vintage sparkling wines to existing and potential new partners from the UK and further afield. English Wine is an exciting and growing category and it’s great to see the team at the 2026 London Wine Fair champion our domestic wine industry in such an impactful way by bringing together some of the UK’s leading wine producers as part of a newly curated English Wine stand.”
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Luxury country house hotel, The Newt in Somerset, will bring their acclaimed Cyders to the show for the first time. The range comprises both traditional and contemporary cyders, made from 100% apple juice sourced from 70 different varieties from their estate orchard. Loxwood Meadworks will return for their 4th year showcasing their 2023 vintage honey wine. On the spirits side, Highgate-based Sacred Spirits has confirmed, along with Beckford’s Rums from Bath; Brixton Spirits; Scotland’s Frontline Spirits and Claxton’s Spirits; and Foreva Farmers, with their range of premium, sustainable mixers.
WineGB is also supporting Host Nation and is taking a stand within the Host Nation area, with an education focus.
Nicola Bates, WineGB’s CEO said: “WineGB is delighted to be returning to London Wine Fair in what will be a landmark year, with the show’s inaugural Host Nation initiative. Our participation is key to supporting our exhibitors, and also wider members, as we bang the drum for the whole category. One of our key strategic aims is to help our producers market their wines, and this gives them a brilliant opportunity to take centre stage where the trade comes together. It also happens to be the first time that we roll out our new marketing campaign at a UK exhibition allowing us to call on everyone to ‘Create New Traditions and Drink English and Welsh Wines.”
To further shine a spotlight on the 2026 Host Nation, London Wine Fair’s Wine Writers Edit – the list of 30 “must taste” wines – selected by 10 of the UK’s leading wine writers and influencers ahead of the show, will focus on Host Nation exhibitors this year. One of the three products to be selected by each of the wine writers must be British.
London Wine Fair 2026 will take place from 18th to 20th May at Olympia. Visitor registration is now open. The Host Nation for 2027 will be announced at this event.